here’s what it does an looks like – the GUI – much like the Nord Modulars…

and here’s his speech at the 31C3

(not that fast but listen to it! he’s at the ccc explaining it to nerds not among synth / musicians)

the basic thing is this piece of hardware with MIDI, some buttons and a little display – and it reacts to OS X, Windows and Linux. hope this thing will be done and made, so just do it!And of course this is not closed source like the Clavia. It’s an ARM Cortex M4F. ARM is sort of the real antagonist to Intel. It’s a Processor. Not a DSP. But it’s the number cruncher. Can be compared to fast Tablets and Smartphones but would need a lot of details – in fact it is a fast load of power for doing a modular synth.

check this out it is easy to “read” as a synth guy: and don’t get shocked it’s not just windows – its ALL platforms! participating is about 60€ – just to give you an idea. plus shipping etc.you might add a front panel, and solder some potentiometers, faders, leds and switches to the GPIO pins.

ok – this is not part of the indiegogo thing.. but it may help to understand the “nord modular” similarity – but this is not yet ready. this is sort of the control part and therefore referred to as “control”

The advantage of Axoloti Control over a midi controller is that you don’t need to midi-map parameters in order to tweak your patch. It can show parameter names and real world units rather than just midi numbers. Or show a oscilloscope waveform or edit a step-sequence

the midi i/o etc. being part of it is smaller – it’s this one – it’s the basic thing you need to do the work. so – this is what isn’t like the nord – it’s not one machine you could buy (of course) but the most important stuff is in here. referred to as the core. hence the name.

this one features samples – re-organising a breakbeat (I did this a lot on other systems so it is a good demo)look at it – it’s a lot easier than coding / clicking that on Max or PD – looks like a want one to me..

Clavia – the reduced Nord Lead A1as always – we want our G3 sampling modular synth..as every year. No – it’s the A1 – analog modeling – not virtual analog – the term that clavia introduced themselves and also shut down when the Nord Wave came out..

make VSynth / VP9000 kind of granular sample processing with your samples in a euro module by CV! from Qu-Bits called Nebulae

Bitwig DAW coming in March 26.th – at 300€ (a bit like Ableton Live) but the core is modular so everything can modulate everything which means – you can route your own sequencer or LFO to any parameter and everything is integrated – also controller support for livid, novation ..

Like this:

Clavia were the people who introduced the term “virtual analog”, now it’s time to change the claim but – what has changed? this time it isn’t just a synth that has the structure of a Prophet 5-kind of Poly Synth and it’s approach to be controlled by twisting knobs – no – this time it is more emulation and simulation of existing synths like Moogs and Rolands.

but they want it to be less than any Nord Lead ever made – but with FX this time – Clavia Nord Lead A1, A1R as key and rack version.

this 4 octave Nord Lead A1 is a lot like the classic ones but they add the filters from the Lead 4 (moog and tb=roland) filters – simplified. One LFO, simple routing and the OSC section with several kinds of synthesis techniques – on the lower one the way those 2 OSCs interact (sync, FM..) – with fx, simple envelopes. the Arper has it’s own clock – which is good – but there is no 2nd LFO anymore. this is not for synth nerds – right?

3 scenarios:

1) Nord Lead 2x will be dicontinued – the A1 will be replacing it as the low price end, the Nord Lead 4 being the top end – even though without aftertouch (which I don’t understand in a 1.7€k Synth)?

2) all 3 models will stay in the shops, the A1 sold unter or about the same price as the Lead 2x..?

-> so it’s about which one is the lead synth or replacement – to me the nl4 could be seens as the new Nl2 without aftertouch and drum mode but with fx and patch darwinism AND those analog modeling filters – found it very nice to use and very “hi-resolution” sounding.

since the nl4 is new it’s not about replacing the nl4, so – maybe starting a new kind of series. but..? this A1 thing comes at 1600-1650€ – so this is not the low end (atm), so – this must be a new kind of category. but it has only the FX and some labeled filter types, everything else is reduced to .. the min.

3) imagine yourself.. but to me it only makes sense they want to drop the NL2x and replace it – lower the price and hope they are ok with one LFO (why?) – I don’t know. over 1k€ this will be the hardest job ever.why don’t you just send us the G3 modular – take my money and ..

in short – I don’t understand the concept of an entry level synth at this price – this time it’s for those not reading this blog, right? is there anybody out there who found the NL2 too complex? ..note – the comparision chart does not mention filter envelopes and more – feature wise this synth is not on top – it’s not even comparable to simple analog synths – I don’t believe that price tag!

but the positive aspects:

1) That red knob is multi-functional – the dial under the 2nd display gives access to more than one – it has shape, dual osc tuning and all that stuff.2) the simplified user interface may help – after understanding it and things not in the NL4 will come – almost!!3) the chorus and ensemble from the Logan String Synth sounds very beautiful4) LED display changes colour to show it’s in performance mode5) it sounds good and hi-resolution6) it sort of changes and helps the entry level user to get an idea of a synth with a smaller amount of controls

an official said: no, this is a new kind of synths – it’s not gonna replace the NL2x or NL4 – and also may come in a rack version later (depends)..

so it’s quite an idea what Clavia may bring us next month.. and yes, the NIC says it is owned by Clavia, so this is not a hoax. see you in Frankfurt – I will be that at booth A58 Synthesizer-Magazin ;)Forum • Neuer Clavia Synth @ Messe FFM 2013.